Page 77 - Stephen R. Covey - The 7 Habits of Highly Eff People.pdf

POWER
Your power is limited only by your understanding and observance of natural law and
correct principles and by the natural consequences of the principles themselves.

You become a self-aware, knowledgeable, proactive individual, largely unrestricted by
the attitudes, behaviors, or actions of others.

Your ability to act reaches far beyond your own resources and encourages highly
developed levels of interdependency.

Your decisions and actions are not driven by your current financial or circumstantial
limitations.

You experience an interdependent freedom.

Remember that your paradigm is the source from which your attitudes and behaviors
flow. A paradigm is like a pair of glasses; it affects the way you see everything in your
life. If you look at things through the paradigm of correct principles, what you see in life
is dramatically different from what you see through any other centered paradigm.

I have included in the Appendix section of this book a detailed chart which shows how
each center we've discussed might possibly affect the way you see everything else. But
for a quick understanding of the difference your center makes, let's look at just one
example of a specific problem as seen through the different paradigms. As you read, try
to put on each pair of glasses. Try to feel the response that flows from the different
centers.

Suppose tonight you have invited your wife to go to a concert. You have the tickets; she's
excited about going. It's four o'clock in the afternoon.

All of a sudden, your boss calls you into his office and says he needs your help through
the evening to get ready for an important meeting at 9 A.M. tomorrow.

If you're looking through spouse-centered or family-centered glasses, your main concern
will be your wife. You may tell the boss you can't stay and you take her to the concert in
an effort to please her. You may feel you have to stay to protect your job, but you'll do so
grudgingly, anxious about her response, trying to justify your decision and protect
yourself from her disappointment or anger.

If you're looking through a money-centered lens, your main thought will be of the
overtime you'll get or the influence working late will have on a potential raise. You may
call your wife and simply tell her you have to stay, assuming she'll understand that
economic demands come first.

If you're work-centered, you may be thinking of the opportunity. You can learn more
about the job. You can make some points with the boss and further your career. You may
give yourself a pat on the back for putting hours well beyond what is required, evidence
of what a hard worker you are. Your wife should be proud of you!

If you're possession-centered, you might be thinking of the things the overtime income
could buy. Or you might consider what an asset to your reputation at the office it would
be if you stayed. Everyone would hear tomorrow how noble, how sacrificing and
dedicated you are.

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